Research Conference Encourages Nurses to Get Involved

Photo Submitted

Elizabeth Lee

Elizabeth Lee, University of Arkansas assistant professor of nursing, will encourage nursing students and local nurses attending this year’s nursing research conference to get involved in research.

The Nursing Excellence in Leadership and Evidence-Based Practice conference takes place April 8 at the Arkansas Union. More than 200 people are registered for the event that will highlight research contributions of 25 nurses in Northwest Arkansas. The Pi Theta Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing at the university and Washington Regional Medical Center co-sponsor the daylong conference, which is in its 21^st year.

Lee joined the faculty of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing in August. She helped coordinate a research project that may support the recovery of DNA more than 72 hours after intercourse. The findings are expected to aid in the conviction of rape suspects.

“Nurses have a responsibility to conduct research that impacts their practice,” Lee said. “Individual nurses can contribute to evidence-based practice through reading current research that is relevant to problems they encounter in the workplace. They can also be part of teams that are working on quality-improvement projects within their organizations. Nursing practice that is based on evidence learned through research will change the future of nursing.”

Topics to be discussed at breakout sessions presented by local nurses and faculty members include health literacy training, improving the use of re-usable medical equipment, electronic health records and nurse specialty certification. Honors student Paige Giles will present her research on peer influence and body dissatisfaction among college sorority women, and other students will display posters based on their research.